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Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Stuffed hamburgers have been around since at least 1954 but it seems like they have been a bit of a trend the past few years. Or maybe I'm just noticing them more often since the Food Wars episode about the Jucy Lucy burger battle in Minnesota

Either way, I received a sample of the Burger Pocket Press to try out and decided to challenge it against my normal hand made process. Excuse the weird audio at the end. I was using a computer with an underpowered processor, I wasn't turning into Charlie Brown's teacher. Waa wah wah waaa.

So how did the Burger Pocket Press do against my two hands? I was honestly surprised. Going into this my assumption was that this would do a decent job but nothing I couldn't already do by hand.

I guess the biggest "wow" was the time difference. As I was making them, it seemed like the Burger Pocket Press took much longer to make each burger than doing them by hand. But after timing it on video, it turned out I was wrong.

Doing them by hand is still easier in my opinion, but that's just what I'm used to. Old dog, new trick.

Hand made burger on left, Burger Pocket Press on right.

I was worried the Burger Pocket Press might not seal the burger as well. That's why I focused on the "push and twist" technique and it worked because none of the 4 pressed burgers ruptured. If you just press straight down like their video shows, I doubt you'd get the same seal. Then again, I was sloppy with my hand made patties, normally most of mine hold up.

There was no taste difference between the burgers.

I didn't plan on rating this category, it happened spontaneously. No one in the house has EVER offered to help me with making burgers. But as I was doing these, everyone was curious and my wife and 11 y/o son both got involved, having fun making their own burgers. Even after dinner, both of them kept offering ideas for the ultimate stuffed burger recipe.

Some of the other selling points about this tool is that it is dishwasher safe, made in the USA, and can also be used to make regular hamburger patties. The only downside is that I think the price point might be a deterrent for impulse buys.

In summary, whether made by hand or Burger Pocket Press stuffed burgers are juicylicious, fun, and get attention from the crowd. If you really want to impress your family and friends at cook outs this summer, don't just grill burgers.....tell 'em to STUFF IT!

21 comments:

I saw one of these at the store the other day...even picked it up and thought about how good a juicy lucy would be...then figured I'd save the money and make it by hand. ha! Both versions look fabulous! Want one! Wa wa wa wa wa...

Jalapeno/cheddar stuffed burgers are the most requested food around here in the summer. However, I use a rolling pin and plastic wrap to make them thin, and sometimes all that squishing makes them rubbery. I'm glad to hear the press doesn't do that, and even more interested in trying your simpler method of hand pressing them. Now I'm off to make burgers. :)

I loved your video! And I love your comparison chart! I haven't made a successful stuffed burger yet... it is on my to-do list now! You make stuffing burgers look so simple. I'm gonna start with the traditional way and do it by hand to see how good I can do it :) I really enjoyed this, thanks!